In Reply to: Grand Bali Beach Hotel posted by Pam on Tuesday, 20. April 1999 at 03:56 Bali Time:
We got back from the Grand Bali Beach a couple of weeks ago and were very disappointed with it. Keep in mind this was our first trip to Bali so therefore our first taste. Before we left we checked it out in the brochures and it billed it self as a 4 star hotel. We stayed in the garden wing, I'm not sure where your staying, but believe me it was far from 4 star standard. There was no hairdryer supplied so every night we had to ring for one and they had to have it back with in an hour the same goes for the iron. The breakfast in the hotel is really expensive so I recommend leaving the hotel and going and finding breakfast at one of the restaurants on the street, you pay extra to get a taxi/bus from the front door of the hotel so the best thing to do is also to walk out to the street and get one from there, there are always heaps around and for half the price. One night we went out and when we got home there was no staff to be found and my friend had to go behind the desk herself and get the key, and another problem we found with the staff was there lack of english especially for a 4 star hotel. Another idea is as soon as u get there go to the supermarket and by a carton of water/soft drink as it can be expensive using the drinks out of the fridge.... but don't make our mistake and buy Evian (its really expensive!) Thats about it for the hotel ... oh avoid the soft serve from the pool bar (my friend got sick from it). The good points would be that it is quiet, they have a good happy hour and you can usually get a poolside chair cause there are 3 pools.
As for dining we didn't eat in Sanur, apart from breakfast, so your best option is to grab a taxi and go to Poppies (Kuta), Jimbaran Bay and La Lucciola (don't leave Bali with out going here ). If you go to Jimbaran Bay the all the taxi drivers seem to drop people off at the same restaurant so you may want to look around for somewhere yourself and get the taxi to wait for you and the same for La Lucciola it only cost us 5,000 rupiah per hour to wait ($1.00 we couldn't believe it) La Lucciola is unbelieveable so get there for the sunset and its really well priced. 4 of us had 3 courses and drinks and the total was $60 for everyone.
Oh I just remembered something else about the hotel....what ever you do don't open the door to the outside in the evening cause you'll be swampewd by beasties.
So have fun and as for the hotel your hardly ever there anyway!